On Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:51:14 -0700 (PDT), lardconcepts
wrote:


So, there it all is! Do capacitors fade over time? Anyway of testing
with yer standard £5 Maplin yellow multimeter?

They generally fail rather than fade. It is a motor run capacitor on
that motor, not a motor start, so it is in circuit all the time and if
faulty you would also get a lot of motor vibration when running as
well as starting problems.

If the fault is intermittent starting I'd look first at the pump and
bearings - is it binding at all? Induction motors have relatively
poor starting torque and a small obstruction can prevent them starting
reliably.